Pediatrics, Parenting

Pediatric Healthy Eating: Types of Cholesterol

HFFY#7567

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Pediatric Healthy Eating: Types of Cholesterol
Your doctor may recommend different levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL than the goals listed above.
Total Cholesterol Triglycerides HDL Cholesterol “Happy” LDL Cholesterol “Lousy”
Goal: less than 170
Goal:
less than 75 (ages 0-10)
less than 90 (ages 10-19)
Goal: greater than 45
Goal: less than 110
Cholesterol is needed for all
parts of your body. This
includes the brain, muscles,
organs, skin and skeleton.
Your body makes its own
cholesterol and uses the
cholesterol from foods you eat.
Cholesterol is found only in
animal foods, not in plant foods.
Total cholesterol is
affected by:
• The amount of cholesterol
made by your body
• The amount of saturated fat,
fiber and total calories in
your diet
• Your family background
A high blood cholesterol level
increases your risk of heart
disease.
Triglycerides are fats from food.
Your body can also make
triglycerides from extra sugar
and calories in the diet.
To help lower triglycerides:
• Lose weight if needed.
• Be active daily.
• Avoid sweet drinks
 Soda, juice, kool-aid,
sweetened tea or coffee.
• Limit starchy foods at meals
 Bread, rice, pasta,
potatoes, corn.
• Enjoy small servings of sweet
treats and desserts.
• Eat 3-4 smaller meals and
snacks rather than 1-2 large
meals per day.
• If you have diabetes, keep
good control of blood sugar.
A high triglyceride level
increases your risk of heart
disease.
HDL cholesterol helps clear out
your arteries. It is good to have
high HDL cholesterol.
To help raise HDL:
• Lose weight if needed.
• Be active daily.
 Choose exercise you
enjoy to try to reach goal
of 60 minutes per day
• Eat unsaturated fats daily.
 Snack on a handful of
nuts or a serving of
peanut butter
 Cook with olive oil or
canola oil
• Eat fish 1-2 times per week.
 Salmon
 Sardines
 Herring
 Mackerel
 Sea bass
The lower your HDL, the
greater your risk for heart
disease.
LDL cholesterol can clog your
arteries. This is why LDL is
often called bad cholesterol.
To help lower LDL:
• Eat less saturated fat.
 High fat dairy products
 Fatty meats
 Deep-fried foods
• Eat more fiber.
 Whole grain breads
 Whole grain cereals
 Oatmeal
 Fruits and veggies
 Beans and peas
Unsaturated fats found in nuts,
olive oil and canola oil do not
raise your LDL level.
Your doctor may suggest
medicine if your LDL does not
decrease with diet and lifestyle
changes.
A high LDL level increases
your risk of heart disease.
Please visit the American Family Children's Hospital Pediatric Preventive Cardiology website for further information:
http://www.uwhealthkids.org/kidscholesterol.
Copyright  10/2013. University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing HF#7567